i'm pretty sure most people weren't into airplanes or the idea of flying until after it became common. ok so we have had space programs and shuttle missions and whatnot, and some people actually do get facinated - but until the average joe/joette begins to get the the idea that they themselves actually have a shot at experiencing it we shouldn't expect too much

i think the whole idea of the ansari x-prize is totally based on this correct (imo) presumption

i'm pretty sure most people weren't into airplanes or the idea of flying until after it became common. ok so we have had space programs and shuttle missions and whatnot, and some people actually do get facinated - but until the average joe/joette begins to get the the idea that they themselves actually have a shot at experiencing it we shouldn't expect too much

i think the whole idea of the ansari x-prize is totally based on this correct (imo) presumption

Right again. By the way, welcome to the boards, if I haven't said that already. Oh, and I agree wholeheartedly with your signature. After having looked over a few AIAA documents I got interested in them, and I'm fixing to get into them by next summer. God bless physics and Texas Instruments.

Really spiky ! Great to see that some people are still researching these kind of ideas.
Aero-spike engines are significantly smaller than the ones with a bell-shaped nozzle and similar (static) performance.
Another (not often mentioned) advantage is that in the lower atmosphere a spike generates less base drag than the bell nozzle.